A group of protesters descended on Premier Helen Zille’s official residence, Leeuwenhof in Gardens, at 3am on Wednesday and built a shack right next to it.
The group of about 15 people, led by community leader Mihlali Xalisile, danced and chanted, calling for Zille to come out.
According to Xalisile, the group, who called themselves the Housing Assembly Youth Collective, wanted to give Zille a “symbol” on Mandela Day.
So they brought a shack and a portable toilet.
ANGRY: Protesters descended on Premier Helen Zille’s official residence. Video: Wesley Fester
“We thought we should come and donate this shack to Helen Zille, and a portable toilet. She has no idea what we live through, and we brought a piece of home for her to see, and also to make her want to help us.
“Our grandparents and parents lived in shacks and died there. We want a better life, the one promised to us and the premier can do it,” Xalisile said.
At 6am, the protesters, from various informal settlements, packed up, leaving the shack behind.
“We leave her a gift, a home; maybe she will return the favour,” Xalisile said.
Spokesperson for Zille, Michael Mpofu, said they were aware of the protest but did not know who had carried it out. “We have not been able to identify the group, as they did not establish any communication with our office. They also did not provide any memorandum for us to engage with,” he said.
He said housing was a major issue across South Africa, not just in the Western Cape, but “our government has been at the forefront of engaging with communities and delivering on our promises, in the midst of serious budgetary constraints”.